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Murder inquiry into Woolmer death Woolmer was murdered, police say
(about 3 hours later)
Pakistan's cricket coach Bob Woolmer was murdered in his hotel room on Sunday after the team's World Cup loss to Ireland, Jamaican police say. Pakistan's cricket coach Bob Woolmer was murdered in his hotel room on Sunday after the team's World Cup shock defeat to Ireland, Jamaican police say.
A post-mortem examination established that the former England player had died as a result of "manual strangulation", police Commissioner Lucius Thomas said.A post-mortem examination established that the former England player had died as a result of "manual strangulation", police Commissioner Lucius Thomas said.
"In these circumstances, the matter of Mr Woolmer's death is now being treated as murder," he added. "In these circumstances, the matter of Mr Woolmer's death is now being treated as murder," he told a news conference.
Police have appealed for any witnesses to come forward.Police have appealed for any witnesses to come forward.
The statement was read by a police spokesman at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel - where Mr Woolmer, 58, was found unconscious by staff on Sunday morning. The statement was read by a police spokesman at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston - where Mr Woolmer, 58, was found unconscious by staff on Sunday morning.
Bob was a large man - it would have taken some significant force to subdue him Mark ShieldsDeputy chief commissioner World Cup to continue Obituary: Bob WoolmerBob was a large man - it would have taken some significant force to subdue him Mark ShieldsDeputy chief commissioner World Cup to continue Obituary: Bob Woolmer
Mark Shields, the deputy chief commissioner of Jamaican police, said there could have been one or more people involved in the murder. Police said there were no signs of forced entry into his room and none of his possessions had been taken. Authorities are studying CCTV footage from the hotel.
"Bob was a large man. It would have taken some significant force to subdue him," Mr Shields said. The deputy commissioner of the Jamaican police, Mark Shields, said this might now be a hunt for more than one killer, and urged the perpetrators to hand themselves in.
He said there were no signs of a struggle or forced entry which would suggest Mr Woolmer knew who his killer or killers were. He urged them to turn themselves over to the police. "Bob was a large man. It would have taken some significant force to subdue him," he said, adding that police were ruling nothing out and had "lots of lines of inquiry".
All those who were staying or working at the Pegasus hotel where Mr Woolmer was found on Sunday are being questioned and authorities are studying CCTV footage. The BBC's Andy Gallacher in Kingston says that Bob Woolmer's murder has stunned the cricketing world and left the World Cup in disarray.
Mr Shields said that police were ruling nothing out and had "lots of lines of inquiry". Speculation that this may be connected to gambling cartels is only adding to the confusion surrounding his tragic death, our correspondent says.
'Resolute and strong''Resolute and strong'
Earlier, Jamaican police questioned members of Pakistan's cricket squad over the death. On Thursday, Jamaican police questioned members of Pakistan's cricket squad over the death.
The Pakistan cricket squad have been questioned by policeAfter being interviewed for about an hour and fingerprinted, the team left for the resort of Montego Bay. The Pakistan cricket squad have been questioned by policeAfter being interviewed for about an hour and fingerprinted, the team left for the resort of Montego Bay. They are due to return to Pakistan on Saturday.
They are due to return to Pakistan on Saturday but it was not clear if the team would be asked to remain in Jamaica pending the investigation. Pakistan team spokesman Pervez Jamil Mir said the players were "in a state of shock" over the news that Mr Woolmer had been killed.
The BBC's Andy Gallacher in Kingston says Mr Woolmer's death has cast a long shadow over the cricket World Cup. However, the sport's governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), said the competition would continue as planned to "demonstrate that cricket cannot be put off by a cowardly criminal act".
However, the sport's governing body, the ICC, said the World Cup would continue as planned. ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said the entire cricket community was shocked by the death of the former England Test batsman and South Africa coach.
ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said Mr Woolmer's death had been "a huge shock" but that it was "a challenge to the game to be resolute and strong and finish in good spirit". He said: "Everyone connected with this event will assist the police in any way possible to ensure the truth emerges."
He said the former London Metropolitan Police commissioner Paul Condon was standing by to assist with the murder inquiry.